City Council Hires Rogan as City Treasurer

The Ely City Council voted to hire Ely resident Jennifer Rogan as its City Treasurer during its meeting last Thursday. The city received five applications for the position, three of which were interviewed. City Attorney Kevin Briggs asked each candidate a set of questions. The city council and mayor were free to ask any follow ups during the interview.

Rogan received an accounting certificate as well as a degree from Great Basin College. Rogan said she has experience in state laws, human resources, union negotiations, writing grants and preparing budgets.

“I like the financial part of it,” Rogan said during the interview. “…I really care for the position and I really care for all the employees that work there and what they’re doing and want to help them achieve a goal. I think I’m good at it, I know I’m good at it, I don’t have a problem with that. I would like to show you guys that I could do the job, I’m really good at it and I can really work with the council.”

Rogan also stressed that living locally means she wants the City of Ely to be financially stable for years to come for her and her children.

The city council was pleased with the applicants who applied.

“I think we’ve got three good applicants here,” Mayor Jon Hickman said. “I’m going to nominate Jennifer because I’m a little more impressed with her application and everything.”

Councilman Sam Hanson agreed with the mayor’s sentiments as well as his appointment to treasurer.

Councilman Dale Derbidge voted against approving Rogan. Former City Treasurer Janette Trask resigned from her post effective last Friday. The city is also collecting applications for the City Clerk position. The closing date is Aug. 16. The city council voted unanimously to remove former City Clerk Jim Alworth from his position earlier this summer. The city council will also hire a permanent Public Works Director as well. The council named Ross Jenkins as interim Public Works Director in July.

The city council also took action on the following items:

• Approval of a home occupation permit to Shelby Mangum to conduct a photography business called ShelbyLea Photography located at 1020 Ave C.

• Approval of a home occupation permit to Cynthia Davis to conduct a personal assistant business called iAssist located at 1301 Ave. M.

• Approval of a home occupation permit to Lloyd Phillips Jr. to conduct a gunsmith (repairs only) business called East Creek Precision located at 1298 Ely St.

• Tabling consideration of the desirability for the procurement and placement of downtown city street lamppost signs honoring active duty military service personnel serving Ely to gather more information.

The city council didn’t take action on consideration of who will pay the notice fees to abandon the property on Avenue M between 10th and 11th Street east to the White Pine County School District because the school district did not express interest in the project. The council also didn’t take action on consideration to set up a City of Ely website and will discuss the item once Rogan settles into her position.

Councilman Randy Lee said the Nevada Department of Transportation is close to setting the city council up with a stretch of highway for its Adopt-a-Highway program. Among the items that are scheduled to be on the next meeting’s agenda include raising the number of dogs that an owner can have.

The next council meeting will be Thursday, Aug. 8 at 4 p.m. at the Ely Volunteer Fire Hall. All council meetings are open to the public.